Recovering The SelfA Journal of Hope and Healing

Commentary

Mobile Technology in the Medical Field

by Connor Ewert

As we find ourselves in the midst of a healthcare crisis with states divided on Obamacare and Medicaid, the systematic IPhoneproblems of the healthcare sector are becoming more prevalent and more pronounced. A doctor’s time is increasingly scarce, not to mention expensive, and patients aren’t getting the level of care that they need. It is obvious that something needs to change and a solution is to empower doctors to be more efficient while improving the quality of care that they give their patients.

We have recently seen how efficient legislation can be when trying to implement new processes. Fortunately, technology is faster than legislation and can be used to increase access to affordable health care. Mobile technology solutions, specifically, are being developed to deal with many of the issue that we face in healthcare today.

Regardless of the outcome of any healthcare legislation, mobile technology can increase the level of care and productivity in the healthcare sector while also reducing costs. Google Glass is one of many products out there that is being talked about in the medical field. This head-mounted technology has the potential to revolutionize the way medical professionals do their job and access information. Various clinical applications for Google Glass are in the works, including first-person recordings of surgeries and access to electronic medical records. Although it remains to be seem how Google Glass will hold up in crowded operating rooms or disaster scenes, the introduction of the lightweight set of enhanced glasses to the medical field is still extremely significant when it comes to showcasing how far mobile technology has come.

Smart phones are also being used to enhance healthcare. Not only can they manage large systems of data but they also have the capability to help doctors catch early signs of disease through patient monitoring and self-tracking apps. Companies like Ginger.io are already working to be at the forefront of the mobile health industry. Some of their apps are already being used in medical centers across the country giving nurses and doctors and insight to their patients’ lives once they leave the clinic.

This may seem far-fetched at first glance but upon closer look at how we use our cell phones, it becomes easier to understand. We live in a world where we rely on our cell phones to give us directions, locate the nearest pizza place, and play some of our favorite games. Our cell phones are the only object that we constantly have within arm’s reach and some individuals even take their phone with them to bed. There is no denying that our phones have become a crutch. It is our reliance on smart phones that allows apps like Ginger.io to assist with medical care. The app uses data from your phone and alerts medical providers when there are drastic changes in your behavior.

By incorporating mobile technology into our healthcare system, systemic changes can be made to improve the quality of care patients are getting and allow medical professionals to be more efficient in their activities. The state of our healthcare system is still far from perfect but perhaps we are moving in the right direction thanks to mobile technology.

About the Author

Connor Ewert enjoys experimenting with new forms of technology and can’t wait to try out Google Glass for himself.

Share This Page

PinIt

Subscribe to RTS Journal posts

DISCLAIMER: please read

Recovering The Self is a forum for people to tell their stories. Individual contributors accept complete responsibility for the veracity, accuracy, and non-infringement of their reporting.
Inclusion in Recovering The Self is neither an endorsement nor a confirmation of claims presented within. Sole responsibility lies with individual contributors, not the editor, staff, or management of Recovering The Self Journal.
Malcare WordPress Security